Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga Set For Next Week’s WWE Smackdown

Old associates will collide on next week’s episode of WWE Smackdown as Shinsuke Nakamura will face Tama Tonga. It was announced on Friday’s show that Tonga and Nakamura will face off on next week’s episode.

The match was set up in a backstage segment where Tonga confronted Nakamura. He mocked Nakamura for losing to AJ Styles on last week’s show and said that while Nakamura was losing, he was winning the WWE Tag Team Championships. Tonga told Nakamura that he should retire, with Nakamura challenging Tonga for next week.

Nakamura and Tonga crossed paths many times back in their days in NJPW. Nakamura was part of CHAOS while Tonga was part of the Bullet Club. They only ever faced off in a singles match once during that time, a match on NJPW’s 40th Anniversary tour in 2012 where Nakamura defeated Tonga. They have competed twice in WWE, first in a tag team match and second in a Survivor Series Style Elimination match in late November. Tonga was on the winning side of both WWE matches.

WWE Smackdown next week takes place from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nakamura vs. Tonga is the only match announced for the show so far. The episode airs live on USA Network and Netflix internationally.

411 will of course have live coverage of the show.